Belonging & Student Support
Reporting administratively to the Associate Vice President for Arts, Belonging & Community within the Student Engagement & Well-Being cabinet area, this department expands and enhances Georgia Tech’s ability to:
- promote belonging for all Yellow Jackets,
- facilitate constructive dialogue and promote intercultural competencies,
- foster students’ holistic development, and
- support their academic success.
Efforts contribute to advancing Big Bet 1 of the Institute Strategic Plan Refresh: “Be a national leader in outcomes and value for all students.”
Belonging & Student Support serves and collaborates with all students and student communities, while sustaining and expanding capacity to serve any student who benefits from co-curricular support to facilitate their pathway to degree. Staff routinely review student data on educational outcomes, health and wellness, belonging, and engagement to identify programmatic and service priorities that can make a positive difference in students’ experiences while at Georgia Tech.
We strongly affirm Georgia Tech’s commitment to ensuring students are our top priority, demonstrating that we thrive on diversity, safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression, and cultivate wellbeing for all students – no matter their background, identity or viewpoint. All Yellow Jacket students are welcome at our activities, events, programs, and services - each designed to meet students’ various learning styles, unique needs, and differing life experiences.
Directory of Staff
Meligha Garfield
Director
Culture, Innovation, and Technology
Interests: Marvel comics collector, hip-hop aficionado, graphic design, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated member
Jorge Breton
Student Development Programs, Assistant Director
Interests: Outdoors, music, travel
Melissa Gerrior
Director
High Impact Practices and Student Events
Interests: baking, reading, cozy video games, arts & crafts
Stephanie Selvick
Student Development Programs, Assistant Director
Interests: Taking road trips, scuba diving, reading fiction
William Britto
Director (Interim)
Campus Community Engagement & Outreach
Interests: Film, media, and literature enthusiast
Vee McConnell
Student Support Specialist
Interests: Garment sewing and quilting, arts & crafts, cats, bird watching, Dungeons & Dragons
C. Bernard McCrary, Ph.D.
Director
Constructive Dialogue and Intercultural Education
Interests: Sociology of higher education, sports and entertainment enthusiast, foodie
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Smithgall Student Services (Flag Building) Suite 102 A & B
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Events
There are currently no scheduled events.
Signature Programs & Initiatives
The ability to communicate effectively across differences is a key aspect of promoting belonging within a community. In research by the AAC&U, intercultural knowledge and competence has also been identified by employers as a highly desirable skill in employees they hire. Starting in August 2024, Georgia Tech launched a pilot initiative to offer the online course Perspectives, powered by the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI), to all students. This course is being offered as part of Institute initiatives in support of Georgia Tech’s strategic value, “We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.”
This course provides all Georgia Tech students with a shared language for engaging in conversations that reflect care and compassion. Developing these skills helps to reduce the possibility of future interpersonal, organizational, and campus conflicts. Strengthening our community, through dialogue and disagreement, is an essential responsibility in what it means to be a Yellow Jacket!
This online course is designed to equip students with valuable skills to engage in meaningful conversations across differences in background, cultural beliefs, ideas, or opinions. Whether it’s navigating tough discussions with friends or understanding divergent perspectives in class, the skills gained through Perspectives will help create a more connected campus community – one in which every student can feel like they are heard and validated.
Students receive an invitation to get started with Perspectives via email. If you cannot find your original email invitation from vp_sewb@gatech.edu, please visit this page and submit your info. Directions for accessing Perspectives will then be sent to you. For more information about Freedom of Expression @ Georgia Tech, please bookmark and visit this page (students.gatech.edu/freedom_of_expression).